Tebow did nothing wrong; gun survey

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow sits on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

When you are a 'good' football player

What did Tim Tebow do wrong - nothing!

Tim Tebow's problem started when John Elway and John Fox took over the Denver Broncos.

They did not like Tebow because Josh McDaniels had drafted him. They wanted to get rid of him from the very beginning and they did, right before the 2011-2012 season started. Right at the time when there was not much opportunity for him to go to another team.

Did Elway plan it that way? He wanted Manning so bad that he did not care who he hurt. Elway is not a nice man! (I would have said something else but you do not print cuss words.)

The Jets hardly used Tebow so why did they take him? The Jets wanted those better draft numbers that's why. They never intended to use Tebow. The Jets are stupid and Rex Ryan, their coach, is an idiot!

I know people will say this is just big business. If this is the way football business is handled, treating their players like slaves - selling them off - not caring how the players feel about where they are being sent, than, I no longer want to be a football fan. (I know these guys get big bucks for playing but they are treated the ways slaves were treated.)

I am no longer a Bronco fan for sure. Since Manning had to be the star (he sure did not want the crowd yelling Tebow! Tebow! during one of his games), if he gets hurt who will be the backup? They have no one with experience.

Tebow is a good guy but I guess in the football game if you cheat on your wife or are in trouble with the law, that is when you are a 'good ' football player!

Nancy Ickes, Colorado Springs

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Total misuse of the recall system

I served four of my eight years in the state Legislature with Sen. John Morse. During those four years, I learned a lot about John.

He is no coward, and is never afraid to speak his mind. He has the courage of his convictions. That's what El Paso county voters want in their political leaders, right? Courage and forthrightness? So why is a small, vocal group of extremists and special interest groups trying to force his recall? That would be a total misuse of the recall system. Recall exists so we can remove corrupt legislators from office, not to punish them for votes we disagree with. That's what elections are for.

The fact that Sen. Morse's caucus chose him as their leader, even though he is the only Democrat senator from El Paso County speaks volumes as to their respect for him as a legislator, a leader, and spokesman.

At a time when the mayor, Colorado Springs political leaders and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Government are pleading with the state to get our fair share of tax dollars, we should not be attacking our most powerful legislative leader. We should be supporting him.

Michael Merrifield, Colorado Springs

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Gun survey small and flawed

I am amazed that the government survey of people in favor of background checks (at a claimed 90 percent) is taken at face value, actually believed. Well, first of all, the Second Amendment of the Constitution is not something to be voted upon - we are a republic, not a democracy. But setting that aside, the survey is a complete fabrication, an outright lie.

It was conducted by the 'General Social Survey ' at the 'National Opinion Research Center ' a department of the University of Chicago. A key element of this survey is the number of people who own guns which, it claims, is going down.

The director of this program is Tom Smith - no, that's his real name - who says 'if we had a larger drop in gun ownership implied in our survey it would make it easier for politicians to 'do the right thing' on guns and pass more restrictive regulations. ' Tom is paid by the anti-gun Joyce Foundation, which expects results for its money.

One of the last surveys taken for gun ownership was 47 percent in 1991. However, this and subsequent surveys have been tainted by the amount that distrust of the U.S. government has grown. Prospective respondents noted 'Only a fool would answer 'yes' to gun ownership on a survey. ' This question is just like asking 'how much money do you make? ' Do you think you will get a straight answer?

On top of that, the sample group for the survey was extremely small, only 2,000. It would be oh-so-easy to manipulate the results with the composition of the sample group or the wording of the questionnaire.

There is no way that 90 percent of the population is in favor of background checks. As an experienced market researcher, my estimate would be about 40 percent. Whatever the real figure is, President Barack Obama is wrong to use it to undercut our nation's Constitution. Too many Americans have died protecting it.

Carl R. Goodwin, Colorado Springs

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Bill would add millions to underclass

The immigration reform bill has so far - in light of the Boston bombings - been questioned on national security grounds. To that an economic issue must be added.

The recession has left the U.S. with millions of long-term unemployed. With their work skills decaying and few jobs to be had, many of these are surviving on a variety of government programs.

The bill would add additional millions of low-skill alien residents - now 'legal ' - creating a labor surplus that will depress wages and increase poverty. Regardless of the current language of the bill, the political pressure to allow them to benefit from government programs and services will be irresistible.

'Immigration reform ' is thus likely to create a permanent, low income underclass and bust assistance budgets at all levels.

The reason is simple: there is at this point no parallel plan for creating a robust, expanding economy that would provide residents old or new with profitable work and decent living standards.

Jacek Popiel, Colorado Springs

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